Expert Consensus Ranking (26 of 27 Experts) - Feb 17, 2018

Arenado has become one of the most consistently elite performers in baseball, as 2017 marked his third straight season with at least 37 home runs and 130 RBI. Batting in Colorado certainly helps, but Arenado's numbers on the road (.283 batting average and a .531 slugging percentage) show that he's not merely a product of Coors Field. Even if he were, he'll remain in Colorado for the foreseeable future, and Arenado owners can put about 40 homers, 130 RBI, and outstanding production in the other fantasy categories in the bank for 2018, making him an easy top-five pick.

Goldschmidt had another truly elite season, bouncing back from his minor power outage in 2016 to hit 36 home runs and finish as the fifth-ranked player in fantasy. There's little to discuss with Goldschmidt at this point - he's just 30 years old, has been an elite fantasy producer for five years, and shows no signs of decline. In fact, he had his highest hard-contact rate of his career in 2017. The addition of a humidor, if it happens, could put a minor damper on Goldschmidt's outlook, but don't overthink it. He's a top-five pick in all fantasy formats this year.

Harper was well on his way to a career season before a grotesque knee injury knocked him out for a significant portion of the year. It wasn't all great news for Harper - his walk-rate dropped, his strikeout-rate rose, and he barely contributed in the stolen base department. But his 29 home runs and .319 batting average through 111 games showed just how high the ceiling is. Entering a contract year, expect a motivated Harper to give it everything he has this year and, health-willing, put up an elite fantasy season.

Turner missed more than a third of the season after fracturing his wrist from a hit-by-pitch, but he did nothing to make fantasy owners doubt his status as a true fantasy stud. Turner stole an incredible 46 bases in just 98 games, making him the most elite base-stealer in the game. The fact that he also chipped in 11 home runs, 75 runs, and a decent batting average only makes him all the more desirable. Given the scarcity of steals in the game, Turner is a sure-fire first-round pick, and can easily be considered in the top-five.

Blackmon won the National League batting title last season, and also hit a whopping 37 home runs while totaling an impressive 137 runs scored. It's difficult to expect a repeat of those numbers, which far surpassed anything Blackmon had done in the past. On the downside, his stolen base output (and efficiency) continued to dip, as Blackmon stole just 14 bases in 24 attempts. Blackmon is a first-rounder, for sure, but betting on the soon-to-be 32-year-old to put up a repeat performance is a bit aggressive. Look for closer to his excellent 2016 numbers (.324 average, 29 home runs and 111 runs scored) and you'll probably be satisfied with his output in 2018.

Kershaw seems to be making a case to be the best pitcher of all time. With that said, he has dealt with injuries each of the past two seasons and we almost have to expect them to resurface in 2018. He will dominate the ratios for you while he is on the mound, but you would be better off getting an extra 50 innings from Kluber and Sale who are right up there with him in efficiency.

Bryant had a bizarre year, in that he disappointed with just 29 homers and a shockingly low 73 RBI. But he showed plenty of signs of growth as a hitter, cutting his strikeout-rate and raising his walk-rate significantly. In the end, Bryant still bats near the top of an elite lineup, and he is just now entering his prime. Expect the home run and RBI totals to rise (even if he continues to bat second as he did most of last year), and for him to provide first-round production in 2018 and beyond.

After dominating the first half, Scherzer saw a steep drop in production, posting an ERA 1.14 points higher and a WHIP a full 0.32 points higher. While he is still clearly an ace, that should be enough to concern you out of using a late first rounder to select him.

Votto, who has been an elite fantasy option for several years, somehow took his game to another level last year in his age-33 season. He tied his career-high in runs scored, and came close to matching his career-highs in home runs, RBI, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and walk rate. He also had the lowest strikeout rate of his career (just 11.7 percent) by a wide margin. Simply put, he was as good as he's ever been last year, and there's no reason to doubt him this season. Even with the depth at the first base position, taking Votto with an early pick is an obviously safe and wise move.

Absent his wrist injury that cost him more than six weeks of action, Freeman easily would have had his best season ever. Regardless, he showed that the power gains he made in 2016 were real, and he posted the lowest strikeout rate and highest ISO of his career. Playing in the bandbox that is SunTrust Park, there's little reason to doubt Freeman's ability to be an elite power hitter going forward. Especially if he has third-base eligibility in your league, Freeman should be a very early pick and can be relied on as one of the building blocks of your fantasy team.

Rizzo has been perhaps the most reliable fantasy player in the game over the past four seasons, hitting either 31 or 32 home runs in each season, tallying between 89 and 99 RBI, and throwing in a handful of steals. But although his fantasy numbers remained consistent, he showed plenty of gains last year, cutting his strikeout rate and increasing his walk rate significantly. In other words, there's still plenty of room for growth for the young slugger. He remains one of the top first-base options in the game right now, but to the extent he gained second-base eligibility thanks to Joe Maddon's quirky shifts, he should be considered a truly elite fantasy option this year.

Absent Aaron Judge's season, the baseball community would have been talking about Cody Bellinger's rookie year as perhaps the greatest of all time. Despite beginning the year in the minors and missing time on the disabled list, Bellinger swatted 39 home runs, and added 10 steals to boot. He did struggle some in the playoffs, especially in the World Series, where he struck out 17 times in 28 at-bats. That could mean that there's a book out on Bellinger, which could result in more strikeouts and a bit of a sophomore slump. Still, there's plenty of room for regression with the youngster, and he should still be an excellent fantasy option this year, even if his numbers dip a bit.

When he is healthy and pitching his best baseball, you can put him in the same tier of Kershaw, Sale, Kluber and Scherzer. He really is that good, but he's also inconsistent and appears to be injury prone so beware of the risk at hand.

Bumgarner missed about three months of the season last year after he injured his shoulder and his ribs in a dirt bike accident. The results were mediocre on his return, as he posted a decent 3.43 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, but lost several strikeouts over his career pace. The reason was likely a drop in velocity, but it rose back to Bumgarner's standard level by the end of the season, lessening concerns. In the end, given that his injury was a freak accident and that he returned (mostly) to form, there should be few worries with the big lefty heading into 2018.

Seager had a down year, which is actually hilarious considering he batted .295 with 22 homers at shortstop. As a 24-year-old this year, he is among the front runners to be NL MVP and is well worth a second round pick this spring in fantasy leagues.

Syndergaard foolishly bulked up prior to the 2017 season and then tried to pitch through a strain in his arm before tearing his lat muscle. He returned to throw a few innings at the end of the season and, although it was the smallest of sample sizes, both his velocity and the results were peak Syndergaard. Now leaner and with a manager who is essentially a top pitching coach, Syndergaard should be ready to return to form. Though he has battled several nagging injuries, he hadn't missed significant time prior to last season, as he threw at least 190 innings in both 2015 and 2016. If he can stay healthy, he has almost unlimited potential, and should be considered a top-10 starter heading into 2018 drafts.

Marte obviously had a disappointing year considering he missed half the season after a PED suspension, and his .275 batting average and .379 slugging percentage were career-lows. But had he simply reached his average plate appearances from 2013-2016, he would have wound up with a .275-80-12-52-35 line, which essentially puts his floor at Lorenzo Cain-like production. With speed and batting average difficult to fill, Marte should be considered a borderline top-10 outfielder, even with the lack of a supporting cast.

Ozuna may have been the breakout player of the year, driving in an extra 50 runs from the previous season, batting 45 points higher and hitting for substantially more power. Another bump could come this year now that he is out of the Marlins' pitcher-friendly park.

Greinke is never going to strike out 270 hitters like some of the other top pitchers in baseball, but with the humidor now in Chase Field, you should move him a good 20 spots up your rankings and expect him to compete for the NL Cy Young again like we saw in 2015.

Pollock is not the same top 20 fantasy player that we saw three seasons ago, but a 20-30 season seems probable even with the humidor in Chase. Even with a mediocre batting average, that power/speed combo makes him a top 50 asset.

Unless you are in an OBP league or found a way to give out points for stellar defense, Rendon is much more valuable in real life than fantasy. That isn't to say 20+ homers and a .290 BA from the hot corner can't help you, but it does mean he isn't a top 50 fantasy player.

Yelich is coming off another fine season, which saw him hit 18 home runs, steal 16 bases, and finish as the 20th-ranked outfielder in fantasy. But with his trade to the Brewers, he should be drafted significantly higher this season. Marlins Park has greatly depressed Yelich's numbers over the past two seasons. He hit 24 of his 39 home runs in that span on the road, and had an OPS 126 points lower at home 2017 and 170 points lower at home in 2016. Not only does he move out of Miami, but he goes to a hitters' haven in Miller Park, to a team that had the second-most stolen bases last season. Simply put, Yelich could easily go 25-25 this year and is knocking on the door of the top-10 outfielders.

Darvish may not have gotten quite the payday he was looking for, but fantasy owners can't complain with him landing with the Cubs. Much has been made of Darvish's terrible World Series, but he had a relatively down year before that, finishing with a 3.86 ERA. He did, however, improve significantly after going to the Dodgers, both because of the switch in leagues and because of a lower arm slot that gave him more bite on his breaking ball. Sticking in the National League, Darvish should return to being the low-end ace that he was considered prior to his Tommy John surgery.

If you are going to draft a closer early, of course it ought to be Jansen. He has been the best closer in baseball for years running. With that said, why not wait 100 picks and grab 85% of the production from Archie Bradley or Sean Doolittle?

Last season Car-Mart was quietly dealing with a law-suit. As you might expect, it seemed to have impacted his performance, raising his ERA 60 points and takings a handful of wins from his 2016 total. The issue is still not resolved so don't be so quick to assume a bounce back year.

Last season, Ray became one of the premier pitchers in baseball. Granted, he only threw 162 innings, but if he can bump that up to 200 with the new humidor in Phoenix, he may crack the top 5 fantasy arms.

Myers' batting average dropped and his strikeout rate rose in 2017, but those are really the only negatives you can point to. He went 30-20, increased his walk rate to a career high 10.8%, and set a career high in hard-contact rate by a large margin. Yes, his runs and RBI totals dropped significantly, but those declines are hardly his fault, as the Padres' abysmal offense prevented him from padding his totals in those categories. Although the Padres may not be strong offensively again, Myers' combination of power and speed makes him an outstanding fantasy option at first base in 2018.

Hoskins had an incredible season between Triple-A and the majors, swatting 47 home runs and totaling 115 RBI between the two levels. His 48 RBI in his first 50 Major League games is the best mark ever by a rookie, and his incredibly high walk rate and manageable strikeout rate suggests that his performance was not a fluke. With an improving Phillies lineup and another year under his belt, the sky is the limit for Hoskins heading into this season, and he should have dual-eligibility at both first base and outfield.

Pham's 20-20 breakout season came out of nowhere, as the 29-year-old had barely produced at the major league level before last season. Buoyed by a correction of a vision problem (that had apparently affected his depth perception) and an everyday role, Pham thrived, cutting his strikeout-rate significantly and developing into one of the few true power-speed threats in fantasy. If you believe the narrative, then there's little reason to have Pham outside of your top-20 outfielders. But we've also seen plenty of random excellent years from players late in their career that ultimately tend to be outliers. Your best bet is to proceed with caution, and draft Pham expecting about 80% of what you got last year, which still makes him plenty valuable in fantasy.

McCutchen was unbelievably good in the second half, but before you jump up and proclaim he is a top 40 fantasy player again, keep in mind that he now plays his home games in San Francisco and may see a dip in power.

From a fantasy standpoint, Posey had perhaps the worst full season of his career last year, hitting just 12 home runs and knocking in just 67 RBI, though he still finished as the third-best catcher in fantasy baseball. But his dip in performance was largely based on his lack of supporting cast, as he had the second-highest batting average and on-base percentage of his career. That supporting cast should look much better this year with Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria on board. Posey will be just 31 years old on Opening Day, and should still have another year or two before the inevitable "catcher decline." Though he may have been surpassed by Gary Sanchez, he's still an easy second choice at the position.

If we knew Billy Hamilton would have a job all year, it might make sense to add his 60 steals and just deal with the crummy batting average and power numbers, but he has been so bad that 400+ at bats is nowhere close to a guarantee.

It seemed as though it would never happen, but Braun seems to have finally hit a wall. He finished last year with just 17 homers, 52 RBI and a .268 batting average because of multiple lingering injuries. If he can stay healthy, he may bounce back, but your expectations ought to be closer to what we saw last season.

Nola may be the games most underrated pitcher in the public opinion. He is an elite groundball pitcher and whiffs hitters at a rate that suggests he may be primed to jump into the top 10 pitchers in baseball this season.

If not for a strained hamstring that limited him to just 117 games last season, Contreras likely would have been a top-three catcher. As it is, he still finished ranked sixth at the position, swatting 21 home runs, knocking in 74 RBI, and throwing in five steals. All the underlying numbers support his breakout, as he boasted a 10.5% walk rate with a .223 ISO and a passable 22.9% strikeout rate. Batting in the middle of a strong Cubs lineup, expect Contreras to be one of the top catchers in fantasy again in 2018.

With the trip from Kansas City to Milwaukee, Cain may see the biggest ballprk upgrade of anyone this season. Don't be surprised if he bumps his career high to 20 homers while continuing his trend of stealing 25 bags and hitting .300.

While Quintana saw his ERA finally rise a full run to where his underlying stats indicated they should be, his K/9 jumped nearly two batters per game. The ERA may stay the same, but at least you are getting 200 Ks now with 12 to 15 wins for the Cubs.

A bulked-up Cespedes could not stay healthy last year, missing significant time with hamstring issues. Even when he played, he was essentially battling through on one leg all season, which makes his production all the more remarkable. Despite playing hurt and in a depleted lineup, if you gave Cespedes his average plate appearances throughout his career, he would have wound up with a line of .292-85-31-78, which is more than respectable. Now healthy and with a better supporting cast, Cespedes should once again be a solid four-category producer and a valuable fantasy asset.

If you draft Santana, just know that the Brewers may trade him to a team like the Rays, who's ballpark would be a big blow to Santana's production. If he stays in Milwaukee, we are looking at a potential repeat of 30 HR and 15 SB with plenty of R and RBI.

Shaw had a true breakout season with the Brewers, swatting 31 home runs, totaling 101 RBI, and throwing in 10 steals. His ability to hold his own against lefties led to him keeping the everyday job at third base, and though he struggled a bit down the stretch as he fought through injuries, there are few warning signs heading into this season. Shaw set career-bests in walk percentage and strikeout rate, and he should be a fine fantasy option at the hot corner this season.

Story had a disappointing 2017. hitting just 24 home runs with a .239 batting average. He improved significantly in the second half, coming in with an .834 OPS, but even those gains can't make up for his nearly 35% strikeout rate. Story's production - even if he repeats his 2017 numbers - isn't awful, but with Brendan Rodgers waiting in the wings, it's unclear if it will be enough for him to hold his job all year. In the end, Story is a high-risk, high-reward player, who could easily hit 35 home runs or be out of a job by July. Whether you draft him depends on your risk tolerance and how desperate you are for power.

Polanco has always left fantasy owners with the feeling like he should be much better than he is. With excellent speed and burgeoning power, he has all the makings of a perennial 20-20 player, but injuries have held him back. He drastically cut his strikeout rate last year, however, and has embarked on an extreme training regimen this offseason. If he can manage to stay healthy for most of the season, he could finally have that breakout year. But he warned - the total lack of supporting cast in Pittsburgh could keep in check his runs scored and RBI numbers, even if he does have that breakout season fantasy owners are waiting for.

Zimmerman went largely undrafted in 2017, but turned in one of the most surprising seasons in recent memory. Buoyed by a torrid April in which he bashed 11 home runs and batted over .400, Zimmerman set career highs in both home runs and RBI in 2018. He slowed down a bit in the second half but he kept his power gains, showing that he was a fantasy-relevant first base option regardless of his hot start. Even if Zimmerman regresses as expected, there's plenty of room for him to remain a fantasy-relevant option even with decreased numbers. There are always question marks surrounding his health, but don't be afraid to buy into last year if your league gives you a discount.

Over his last 175 innings, there may not have been a better pitcher in all of baseball and that is not hyperbole. With that said, don't expect much more than 120 innings this year and a dozen wins. Those innings should be dominant though.

Santana had a decent season overall and played in at least 152 games for the fifth-consecutive season. But his home run total dropped from 34 to 23, suggesting that 2016's surge was an outlier. He should have the opportunity to move his home run number back in the opposite direction, however, as his move to the Phillies and hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Ballpark should lead to a bit of a power spike. Regardless, you know what you'll generally get from Santana - a mediocre average, decent counting stats, and a bunch of walks. Although he's more valuable in points formats and OBP leagues, his safety is valuable in rotisserie leagues, too.

Weighed down by a league-leading 62.7% ground-ball rate, Desmond failed to take advantage of playing in Coors Field, hitting just seven home runs in 95 games last season. He missed significant time with a fractured hand early and a strained calf in the middle of the season, and just never seemed to get in a groove. Despite his troubles, he still managed to steal 15 bases in limited time, and his .274 batting average certainly didn't hurt you in today's landscape. With dual-eligibility at both first base and outfield, Desmond should be able to bounce back to being a reliable fantasy option if he can get get the ball in the air a bit more next season.

Wood is an interesting case study because everyone was screaming for regression after his 10-0 start with a 1.67 ERA, .173 BAA and 10.9 K/9 in the first-half. When the regression came (3.89 ERA, .262 BAA and 6.8 K/9), no one seemed to notice because the final numbers were those of an ace. The second half ought to concern you enough that you don't even consider taking him within the first 10 rounds.

Carpenter's batting average dropped to a career-low .241, but the rest of his numbers remained almost entirely consistent with his career norms. He may have been one of the few victims of the fly-ball revolution, as his large jump in fly-ball rate (50.8%) led to a career low in BABIP (.274), despite a strong hard-contact percentage. In the end, don't let the .241 batting average fool you. Carpenter has not declined much if at all, and he should once again put up excellent numbers in 2018 batting at or near the top of a strong Cardinals lineup.

The first 250 at-bats of Taylor's career were uninspiring, but he had always been a solid hitter in the minors. A repeat of his 21/17 season seems unlikely, however, so don't draft him as the top 50 hitter he was in 2017.

Luke Weaver, was a smashing success to close 2016, this proceeded to begin the year in Triple-A in 2017. Everyone was excited for him to be called back up, but few beyond his own mother perhaps, expected him to finish 6th in xFIP in front of the likes of Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco and Luis Severino. His 11.0 K/9 were elite, as was virtually every other underlying metric. The Cardinals have a legitimate ace on their hands, and you can too with just an 11th round pick this year.

Overall, it was a mildly disappointing season from Bell, who despite being a high-average hitter in the minors, struggled to the tune of a .255 batting average. Both his walk rate and strikeout rate were significantly worse than he showed in his 45-game stretch in the majors in 2016, and he simply didn't take the leap that some people expected. Still, Bell did hit 26 home runs and made strides over the second half of the season, so there's reason for optimism going forward. But there's little currently to suggest a true breakout in 2018, and he should be considered more of a roster-filler than a potential difference-maker in fantasy leagues in 2018

While Realmuto showed last season that his .303 batting average from 2016 was a fluke, he did tack on 6 more homers and 17 extra RBIs. He is also the most stolen base friendly catcher, so depending on the makeup of your team, you may want to target him toward the middle of your drafts.

It is easy to forget that Baez is still just 25 years old and that we likely haven't seen his prime yet. That may be 30 HR and 10 SB with a .280 average. For a middle infielder, that is well worth a top 100 pick.

Bruce had another fine year at the plate last season, hitting 36 home runs and totaling 101 RBI between his time with the Mets and the Indians. He'll return to the Mets on a three-year deal, playing a mix of outfield and first base and batting in the middle of the order. Bruce's underlying metrics have remained steady, as his walk rate and strikeout rate remained generally consistent with his career norms. All in all, there's little reason to expect a decline from Bruce heading into 2018, and another season of 30-plus home runs, around 100 RBI, and a .250-ish batting average can be penciled in with confidence.

There is significant bust potential with Schwarber, who struck out 150 times in just 129 games while batting .211. With that said, he may be the only catcher besides Gary Sanchez with a shot at hitting 40 bombs. If you want to buy a lottery ticket, Schwarber is your man.

There's little reason to doubt Bour's ability at this point, as he's established himself as a legitimate power hitter over the last three seasons. An increase in hard-contact rate led to a 26% HR/FB rate last season, which was 13th-best in the league despite Bour playing his home games in Marlins Park. The total lack of supporting cast this season is certainly worrisome for Bour, and his RBI totals may take a dip. But he should still be considered a relatively safe source of home runs heading into 2018.

Molina's value often came from just a heavy workload, as his ability to compile stats usually resulted in a top-12 finish at the catcher position, even if it didn't seem like a great ride. But his 2017 was truly miraculous, as he swatted 18 home runs and stole nine bases, both of which were the second-best marks at his career. His solid year was backed up by a decline in his ground-ball percentage and career-high in hard-contact rate, suggesting it was no fluke. Molina has seen an incredibly high workload in his career and will be 36 years old this season, so the ride should likely end sometime soon. But at an incredibly weak position, he's certainly a safe bet to provide decent and starting-caliber fantasy numbers.

Frazier had a rough year splitting time between the White Sox and the Yankees, but he still clubbed 27 home runs. Although his batting average was anemic even by his standards (just .213), he set a career high in walk rate at 14.4% and his strikeout rate remained consistent. Now batting in the middle of suddenly solid Mets lineup and playing close to his home town, Frazier should be able to once again top 25 home runs with decent counting stats. If he gets his steals back up into the double digits, he could be a draft day bargain.

Last year as a rookie, the 6'4" righty had some rough stretches which led to a season-long 4.57 ERA, but his peripheral stats suggest much better is on the horizon. The difference between his 10.9 K/9 and 6.9 H/9 was only topped by five starting pitchers: Chris Sale, Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber, Rich Hill and Robbie Ray. Sure, he needs to work on his command and consistency a little, as most youngsters do, but that is mighty impressive company.

Grandal had a fine fantasy season for a catcher last season, swatting 22 home runs. But his production dropped off in the second half, and by the end of the season, he had lost significant playing time to Austin Barnes. In the Dodgers' 15 playoff games, Grandal started just two of them, suggesting that he should be in a platoon (at best) with Barnes this year. Still, Grandal has passed the 20-homer plateau in each of the last two years and plays fine defense, so unless word comes out that his playing time will be significantly reduced this year, he can still be drafted as a borderline starter in mixed leagues.

It is hard to believe that a 6'3" lefty who has touched 100 MPH was able to go overlooked as a minor league prospect, but he was somehow barely scratching the top 100 in most lists when he made his debut as a 20-year-old despite carrying a 2.62 ERA and 147 Ks in just 123 innings this season. Luiz Gohara didn't finish the season well, but he is the ultimate late-round lottery ticket for next season.

Winker is the player who will slip under the radar despite being a former top 40 prospect then proceeding to rake in the majors after his debut. In 47 games, he batted .298/.375/.529, which if extended to a full season, compares favorably to George Springer and Andrew McCutchen. Now, he won't steal more than a handful of bases, but even without it, he is likely to be vastly overlooked.

Before being shut down for the season, Yasmany Tomas was less than mediocre for the Diamondbacks with a .241 BA, 8 homers and 32 RBI in 47 games. That happens sometimes to even the best players (just ask Anthony Rizzo and Manny Machado), and especially when one is suffering through an injury like Tomas. What most will forget before drafts, however, is that the Diamondbacks' slugger turned into a star to close the 2016 season with a .294 BA, 18 HR and 49 RBI in the second-half, which if prorated to a full season, would give him 46 homers and 124 RBI, which with his .290+ BA would make him one of the game's top fantasy assets. Granted, maintaining that for a full season is difficult, but he certainly has substantial potential.

Hader is a former top prospect for the Brewers who was stuck in the bullpen last year. Now, that may happen again, but even if it does and he doesn't find a way to steal the closer job from Corey Knebel, Hader is dominant enough to be owned in even standard leagues. Over the second half of the season, he was better than Craig Kimbrel, Edwin Diaz and a host of other top closers. This season, you can expect him to strike out near 100 hitters with a great ERA and WHIP. Don't sleep on the idea that he ends up as the Brewers closer if Knebel stumbles, or better yet, gets his crack in the rotation where he just may be a future ace.

If you whiffed on your top catching targets, there is no need to fret, you can get Avila late and he may just be a top five catcher this year. Last season, his batted ball rates were through the roof, and with a move to Chase Field where he will have no competition for playing time, we may be looking at a major breakout.

Oh, you actually believed the rumor that Luke Gregerson (4.57 ERA, 13 HR allowed) was going to be the Cardinals closer over Leone? It is only a matter of time before the entire fantasy baseball community catches wind of the fact that Leone is far and away the best reliever in St. Louis. Over the second half, he morphed into a force of nature for the Blue Jays, posting a 2.05 ERA with 11.5 K/9 and a .205 batting average against. This is the cheapest closer you can find right now, and he may just end up top 10 at the position this year.